Pipe wrench



c. A. HUNTLEY PIPE WRENCH Filed Aug. 14, 1956 Sept. 7, 1937.

Patented Sept. 7, 1937 @Ni'ih 'STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,092,699 PIPE WRENCH Clarence A. Huntley, Minatare, Nebr. Appiication August 14, 1936, serial No. 96,084

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in pipe wrenches and is designed with the particular purpose in view of providing a quick-acting practical pipe wrench of few parts and in which the gripping of a pipe, or other article, is effected by movement of the handle ofthe Wrench around the pipe, or article, in the direction in which the latter is to be turned.

Another object is to provide a pipe Wrench of the character and for the purpose above set forth7 adapted for setting to vary the gripping action under such movement of the handle.

Still another object is to provide a pipe wrench adapted for effecting a maximum and a limited degree of gripping action, respectively, and settable for predetermining the degree of said gripping action to be elected in connection with different sizes of pipes.

Other objects are to provide a wrench of the character and for the purpose above set-forth which is easy to manipulate, will..positive1y not slip,'is strong and durable, and which may be manufactured at comparatively low cost.

Other and subordinate objects, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will become apparent when the following description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specioation.

In said drawing:

Figure l-is a view in side elevation of a pipe wrench embodying my improvements, the parts being shown in normal position.

Figure 2 is a similar view, partly in section, illustrating the operation of the wrench parts.

Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation.

Figure 4 is view in transverse section taken on the line 4 4 of Figure l looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line i-- of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of a pawl for Yelecti-ng diierent settings of the wrench.

Reference being had to the drawing by numerals, the wrench of my invention comprises outer and inner jaw members I and 2, respective- 1y, relatively movable, a carriage 3 for the outer jaw member, and a handle 4.

The outer jaw member I comprises the usual toothed head 5 and the right-angularly extending shank part il. The carriage 3 comprises a U- shaped yoke member 'l straddling the shank part 6 for sliding movement on the backedge thereof and including spaced-apart side arms 8 extending forwardly of the shank part 6 opposite the head 5. The inner jaw member 2 comprises a toothed front end 9 for (zo-operation with the head part I, a rear extension Ill designed to extend beyond the carriage 3, and a straight rear edge II opposed to the outer edge of the shank part 6. 'I'he inner Yjaw member 2 is mounted in the carriage 3 between the arms B for both pivotal and end-wise sliding movement therein with itstoothed end 9 opposed to the head part of the outer jaw member I and its edge II. opposed to the shank part Ii. The mounting of saidl jaW member 2 comprises a pin I2 passing through a longitudinally extending slot I3 in said jaw member 2 and having its opposite ends riveted in the arms 8. The slot I3 is designed to permit a limited degree of end-wise movement of the jaw member 2 in the carriage 3 and a limited degree of lateral play of said member in said carriage 3, for a purpose presently clear.

The handle 4 comprises a hand-grip part I4 and a bifurcated head part I5 comprising side plates I6 adapted to straddle the carriage 3, the shank part 6 and the inner jaw` member 2. The plates I6 are providedwith rear ear-like edge extensions Il, by means of which said head and handle are pivotally mounted on the back of the carriage 3 to swing out of a normal position of alignment with the shank part 6 forwardly of the latter. As shown, the pivotal mounting comprises a pair of laterally spaced lugs I8 on the rear edge of the carriage 3 and a pivot bolt I9 passing through said extensions and lugs.

The jaw members I and 2 are relatively settable into approximate gripping position by sliding the carriage 3 and the shank part 6 relatively into diilerent xed positions established by means of ratchet teeth 2U formed on the rear edge of the shank part 6 and a pawl 2| pivoting on the beforementioned bolt I9 between the lugs I8, to swing into and out of engagement with said teeth. The pawl 2| comprises a thumb piece 22 for manipulation thereof and is urged into engaging position by means of a leaf spring 23 suitably secured to the carriage 3 and bearing outwardly against said thumb piece 22.

The inner jaw member 2 is movable toward and from the outer jaw member I independently of the carriage 3 under movement of the handle 4 by a camming connection between said member 2 and the head part I5 of said handle and comprising the following:

The head part I5 is provided internally thereof with opposed pairs of arcuate cam members 24 on opposite plates I6, respectively, forming 55 arcuate opposed grooves 25 between the mem.- bers of said pairs disposed eccentrically of the pivotal point of connection of the handle 4 to the carriage 3. The inner jaw member 2 is 5 formed with a pair of arcuate ribs, or tongues,

26, upon opposite sides of the extension I0 thereof, respectively, said ribs being concentric to the grooves 25 and slidingly fitting therein. The described camming connection is such that upon forward movement of the handle 4 the inner jaw member 2 is moved toward the outer jaw member I to grip a pipe therebetween in any of the set positions of said members. The before-mentioned relation of the slot I3 and pin I2 provides l5 for limited movement of the jaw member 2 in the carriage 3 and also for limitation of movement of the handle 4 into and from a position parallel with the shank part l. The beforementioned degree of lateral play of the jaw member 2 provides for movement thereof compensating for the throw of said member under the action of the described camming connection.

In the use of the described wrench, the pawl 2| is disengaged from the teeth 20 and the carriage 3 and the shank part 6 adjusted relatively to position the said jaws closely adjacent to the article to be gripped and with the handle 4 swung to the limit of its movement in a rearward direction as determined by engagement of the pin I2 with one end of the slot I3. In this position of the parts the carriage 3 is locked to the shank part E by means of the pawl 2| and the teeth 20. i Under forward turning movement of the handle 4 about the bolt I9, the described camming cono5 nections 24, 25 and 26 force the inner jaw member 2 against the article into gripping co-operation with the jaw member I, such movement of the jaw member 2 being independent, as will be clear. The Idegree of such independent movea.; ment of the jaw member 2 under turning movement of the handle 4 in this direction may be varied, and consequently the degree of gripping action of said jaws, by setting the carriage 3 and parts connected therewith on the shank part 6,

gg, or vice-versa, to different positions.

The foregoing detailed description of my improved wrench will, it is believed, suflice to impart a clear understanding thereof.

It is to be understood, however, that the present disclosure is illustrative of a preferred embodiment of my invention only, and that right is herein reserved to modifications of details described falling within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. A wrench comprising a stationary jaw, a guide carried by said jaw, a carriage slidably engaging said guide and having spaced apart extensions, means to detachably secure said carriage to said guide, a movable jaw loosely engaging between said extensions and having an elongated opening parallel with said guide, a pin extending through said opening and xed to said extensions, a handle, spaced apart cam members secured to said handle and engaging on opposite sides of said carriage, means pivotally securing said cam members to said carriage, a pair of spaced apart arcuate ribs carried by each cam member, and a pair of arcuate ribs carrie-d by said movable jaw one on each side thereof eccentric to said pivot means and engaging between said ribs.

2. A wrench comprising a stationary jaw, a guide carried by said jaw, a carriage slidably engaging said guide and having spaced apart eX- tensions, means to detachably secure said carriage to said gui-de, said means including teeth carried by said guide and a pawl carried by said carriage, a movable jaw loosely engaging between said extensions and having an elongated opening parallel with said guide, a pin extending through Said opening and xed to said extensions, a handle, space-d apart cam members secured to said handle and engaging on opposite sides of said carriage, means pivotally securing said cam members to said carriage, a pair of spaced apart arcuate ribs carried by each cam member, and a pair of arcuate ribs carried by said movable jaw one on each side thereof eccentric to said pivot means and engaging between said ribs.

CLARENCE A. HUN'I'LEY. 

